Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have a question? Then you might find the answer below. Still a question? Please contact us by telephone 0031-299-313 070 or click here to ask your question by e-mail. We will contact you as soon as possible.

Rental bike or own bike?

During the trips of Eurosail you can rent a bicycle. The type of bicycle you can rent depends on the type of trip you are on. You will get a 24-speed bike on all our trips in Provence and Italy. For all the other trips we usually use 11 or 8-speed bikes of the German brand Gudereit. Bicycle bags, panniers, are standard on all bikes. On request we can also supply e-bikes and children’s bikes. Tandems can also be rented, provided we are notified in advance.

Space to store bicycles on the barges is limited. Therefore it is only possible to bring your own bicycle if there are medical reasons, and only after consulting us. In that case, neither the owner nor the crew of the barge, nor the travel organization is liable for theft of and/or any damage to the bicycle.

Can I rent an e-bike?

On most trips it is also possible to rent an e-bike. But because we have only a limited number of e-bikes available early booking is recommendable. On some trips you can bring your own electric bicycle and charge it aboard: please find out before booking a trip if this is possible for that trip.

Are bike helmets required?

Wearing a bike helmet is not required by law. However, we do recommend you wear one. All our barges have helmets on board, which you can use, sometimes free of charge, sometimes you can rent one for € 10,- or € 15,-.

Are the bike & barge vacations suitable for children?

Children are welcome on all our trips, though children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Do make sure that your child(ren) can handle distances of 30 to 60 km. a day. Of course, you are also welcome to stay on board for a day or more.

What is the role of the guide on board?

On your bike trips you will be accompanied by an experienced guide, who knows the area well, speaks the local language and who will show you the sights with great enthusiasm. Every evening, after the meal, the bike trip for the following day is discussed. Afterward the guide will often take you on an evening stroll. The guide will also try to solve any problems with the bikes that may occur along the way.

How do I reach the boarding destination?

After you have booked a trip, we will send you detailed information about the docking place of the barge and the easiest way to get there. You can also find this information on our website under the details of the different trips. In cases where the point of departure and arrival are not the same, we advise our guests to travel by train.

Parking in Amsterdam

When arriving in Amsterdam by car, we advise you to use the Amsterpark.nl Parking Service. You can choose from Self Parking or Valet parking.

Self parking
With Self Parking you also drive your car directly to the ship and check in your luggage, where after you drive to our secured parking area. A shuttle bus then takes you back to the ship. At your return date, your shuttle bus will be waiting for you at the ship’s location and takes you back to the parking site, where your car is already awaiting you.

Valet parking
A driver is awaiting you in front of the ship and helps you with your luggage. This professional driver drives your car to a 24/7 secured parking area where your car is stored under camera surveillance. Upon your return, your car will be ready for you in front of the ship so you can drive home immediately.

Make sure that you have a parking spot in Amsterdam. The best way to do this is to make a reservation at Boat Bike Tours, because that does not only give you a guarantee for a parking spot, but your car is also safe at a reasonable price while last minute parking is unnecessary just like using public transport or a cab.
Amsterpark.nl is the largest Valet Parking company around Amsterdam Airport and Cruise Terminal Amsterdam and cooperates with many international tour operators and airlines and is insured against damages.

For more information click here.
Have you already booked a trip with us just fill in this form and we will contact you.

What about meals and drinks

Your chef is used to cook delicious meals for hungry cyclists. An extensive breakfast is served every morning and a three-course dinner in the evening. One night dinner is on your own. During breakfast you can make a packed lunch to take with you. Coffee and tea will be waiting for you on board after the daily bike trip. Other drinks, such as wine, beer and soft drinks are available on board at a charge. On board is a well-equipped self-service bar. During the week you have to register on a sheet, provided by the crew, all the drinks that you will consume. At the end of the week you can pay your drinks, only in cash. If you want to drink a bottle of wine that you did not purchase from the ships bar, you will be charged a corkage fee of 5 euro per bottle.

What if I have dietary wishes

If you have special meal requirements (vegetarian meals, or if you are on a lactose- or gluten-free diet), we urge you to please indicate that at the time of the booking. Vegetarian meals are easily arranged; in all other cases we will check if your request can be realized on the trip of your choice. In those cases (e.g. lactose- or gluten-free) there is an additional charge of € 50, – per week to be paid on board.

What does my cabin look like?

All the cabins have their own bathrooms with shower, toilet and washbasin. All cabins have two single (low) beds; a few cabins have a double bed.
Sometimes single cabins and cabins for three of four people are available (depending on your travel area/boat). We can inform you concerning availability on request. All barges have cabins with central heating and most of our barges have air conditioning as well. You can find the details per barge here.

Is smoking allowed?

Due to legal safety regulations, smoking is prohibited in all cabins on board: as a result, all rooms / cabins are non-smoking rooms. All other passenger areas inside the barges are also non-smoking areas.

Are pets allowed?

Pets are not allowed on board.

Can I use a laundry service on board?

If you want to wash your clothes, you can find different places on land to do laundry. The guide will help you to find these places. On board, we offer to do some small laundry (biking clothes) on 14 day trips.

What to bring?

The experienced bikers know exactly what to bring. For those guests that are on a bike & barge trip for the first time here some advice:
– Travel light
– Bring comfortable clothes that you can wear in layers
– Rain gear
– A windbreaker or light shell is also useful for cool mornings and days that are a bit chilly.
– Padded cycling shorts will add considerably to your comfort.
– Cycling gloves
– Sunscreen
– Sun glasses
– Sportive shoes (for walking and biking)
– Your own helmet
– And of course passport, credit cards and travel documents
Hairdryers are available on board.
All our barges also have helmets on board, which you can use, sometimes free of charge, sometimes you can rent one for € 10,- or € 15,-.

What is the average age of the participants?

The average age of our guests is between 50 and 75 years of age. But especially in the summertime we also get younger travelers.

How does the booking process work on this website?

Every trip has its own page of details. On the left hand side you will find extensive travel information and photos, and on the right hand side the cabin types and availability. If you click on a cabin type, a calendar will pop up with the available dates including the price per person. Select your travel date and click on the green arrow down the bottom to reserve the trip.

Step 1: reservation process
A new window will open with an overview of the chosen trip on the right.
Fill in the number of people top left. You can also reserve a hire bike, tell us about your dietary requirements and select one or more types of insurance.
The total price of the reservation (including €15 reservation costs) will be calculated on the right.
Click on ‘Next’ to go to step 2.

Step 2: personal data
You fill in your personal information here such as your name and address.
Click on ‘Next’ to go to step 3.

Step 3: overview
An overview of you personal information and the fee. If you want to make any changes, click on step 1 or step 2. When you have checked everything, check the ‘Terms and Conditions’ box. You can also add yourself to the Boat Bike Tours mailing list, and receive the newsletter with all the last minute deals, new trips and other interesting news about once a month.
Click on the green button that says ‘Confirm booking’ to confirm your booking. You will receive a confirmation email of your booking.

We will receive your reservation request. First we will check availability, after that you will receive a confirmation email with the bill included.

Period of consideration

Because we comply with the General Conditions of Thuiswinkel.org, you have an automatic maximum of 14 days to consider your booking. Within this timeframe, you can cancel any reservations made via our website free of charge.

Down payment

After making the booking you will receive a travel confirmation and a bill. Usually you will have to pay 40% of the travel fee when booking and the 60% additional costs approximately 6 weeks before your departure date. You will find the details on your travel confirmation.

Reservation costs

An extra €15 per booking will be charged for reservation costs. These costs will be added to the grand total at the end.

VAT

All prices are including VAT.

Terms and Conditions

Boat Bike Tours’ Terms and Conditions are applicable to all our cycling/sailing holidays and all the related travel arrangements and confirmations. If you book a trip with us these conditions will become part of the travel arrangement. If any deviating stipulations are applicable to your booking, you will be informed of that fact by us in writing before you book the trip or when you are booking it. Your confirmation is binding. Timetables and other information are subject to change, for example due to metrological, technical or nautical reasons. See our TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Insurance

We advise you to look into our casualty, baggage or cancellation insurance (if you have not already got continuing travel insurance, of course). Please note that most insurance companies demand that cancellation insurance is arranged at the same time or shortly after you book your holiday.

Complaints

Although we do our best to ensure our trips are of the utmost quality, if you are dissatisfied about anything please inform the captain immediately. The captain will then do everything in his power to solve your problem. If you want to complain after the trip, please do so in writing (letter, email or fax) to Boat Bike Tours BV. We strive to respond in approximately 14 days, if necessary the matter will be discussed with the captain. If a complaint has not been resolved satisfactorily on time, or if no redress has been obtained in this respect, the traveller can, if necessary, submit the complaint in writing until at the latest three months after the end of the trip (original date of departure) to: Geschillencommissie Reizen, Postbus 90600, 2509 LP in Den Haag (www.sgc.nl).